Nation Of Heat

Across from the prison and beside the great lake

Below the rooftop and above the highway

The spirits pay rent to the basements they haunt

And the pages draw pictures of the things that they want

I cook my dinner on the black top street

I come from the nation of heat

Outside the train station there's a bold painted sign

It says "try to be patient don't forget to choose sides"

We got the loudest explosions that you've ever hear

We've got two dollar soldiers and ten dollar words

If I didn't own boots I wouldn't need feet

I come from the nation of heat

So swift and so vicious are the carnival rides

And the carnival barker will yell your name for a bribe

We got billboards for love and japanese cars

It aint rare to hear the street lights call themselves stars

The more that I learn the more that I cheat

I come from the nation of heat

I've seen skeleton mothers and hungry folks

Across the street from the kitchen that cooks dinner the most

Sometimes you hear whispers by the dark of the moon

That we promise too much and gave it too soon

Even our coughs said our fevers compete

I come from the nation of heat

Blocking borders with smiles our immigrant sons

We measure loneliness in miles and misery in tons

There's a straw hatted man going away from the shore

He said its a shame they dont let you have slaves here anymore

I'm the ugliest man that youll ever meet

I come from the nation of heat